Cyber Bullying: Is It Really An Epidemic? (Infographic)

Bullying: The New Awareness

The prevalence of bullying in America’s schools has resulted in its being named a public health issue. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, bullying is classified as a form of youth violence and can result in physical injury, social and emotional distress, and even death. Victims are at increased risk for mental health problems such as depression and anxiety, psychosomatic complaints such as headaches, and poor school adjustment. And the bullies themselves are at increased risk for substance use, academic problems, and violence later in adolescence and adulthood. The ultimate goal is to stop bullying before it starts.

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Bullying: The Statistics You Need to Know

Did you know that nearly half of 40,000 polled individuals acknowledged being bullied over the past year? Did you know that 3 percent of those students admitted to skipping school because they feared the physical or emotional consequences of bullying? Perhaps most alarming is the fact that half of students admitted bullying another person. Although awareness and prevention efforts have never been greater, bullying is still a serious problem across all demographics in the U.S.

Past generations were able to better avoid bullying because it required ascribing an action to a person. In today’s world, bullying is much easier, since cyber bullying through the Internet can be accomplished anonymously. In addition, 95 percent of students admitted that they have witnessed cyberbullying but have done nothing about it. With an estimated 20 percent of 3rd graders already carrying cell phones, the access to opportunity just got easier.

Contact Us for Legal Advice Involving Bullying

Cyber Bullying: Is It Really an Epidemic?

Rather than helping to eliminate it, modern technology and social media have simply created new avenues for bullying. But how common is it, really, and could it actually be in decline? Where does it start and what are parents doing about it? The infographic below provides insights on the state of cyber bullying and what’s currently being done. We hope you’ll help share this to spread awareness and unveil some of the realities of cyber bullying.

Some highlights:

  • More than half of parents worry that their child will become a victim of cyberbullying
  • Females are more likely to become cyberbullies than males
  • The most likely reasons for bullying are revenge or because the bully feels the victim deserved it
  • 15-year olds are most likely to become the victim of a bully
  • 80 percent of lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender students acknowledge being bullied

Although these statistics may not be surprising, some CDC findings indicate we don’t know everything there is to know about bullying just yet.

For example:

  • Popular students get bullied, too
  • Caucasian and Hispanic students are more likely to bully others than their African American counterparts
  • Half of adults between the ages of 30 and 49 admit to being the current victim of a bully
  • Students who change schools frequently are at a higher risk of being the victim of a bully
  • Nearly 30 percent of bullying victims have thought about suicide
  • 40 percent admitted male middle school bullies had been arrested 3 or more times by age 30
  • Anti-bullying campaigns may cause, rather than prevent, bullying

For legal advice regarding a personal situation involving bullying, contact KBG Injury Law.

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